About Central Square
Central Square is a Cambridge neighborhood on Massachusetts Avenue, roughly halfway between Harvard Square and MIT, and the civic center of the city as well as a commercial one. Cambridge City Hall stands at 795 Massachusetts Avenue, and the surrounding blocks were designated a Massachusetts Cultural District in 2012. Central station on the Red Line sits in the middle of the square, with Kendall/MIT one stop away and walkable. Its rental stock holds the highest concentration of purpose-built apartment buildings of any Cambridge neighborhood on Spot Easy, from mid-size buildings on the side streets to larger ones along the avenue, with three-family wood-frame houses filling in behind them.
Spot Easy lists Central Square apartments from verified agents, with real-time availability, filters for bedroom count, bathrooms, pets, parking, laundry, elevator access and no-broker-fee listings, and photos or 3D tours on most units.
Cambridgeport apartments border the square to the south, with Inman Square apartments and Mid-Cambridge apartments to the northeast. Cambridge-wide median asking rents by bedroom count, with sample sizes and percentiles, are published in the Spot Easy Rent Index.
FAQ about Central Square Apartments for Rent
Where is Central Square?
Central Square sits on Massachusetts Avenue in the middle of Cambridge, roughly halfway between Harvard Square and MIT. It is the civic center of the city as well as a commercial one: Cambridge City Hall stands at 795 Massachusetts Avenue, and the surrounding blocks were designated a Massachusetts Cultural District in 2012.
How is transit access in Central Square?
Central station on the Red Line sits in the middle of the square, putting Downtown Crossing and South Station on one side and Harvard, Porter, Davis and Alewife on the other. Kendall/MIT is one stop away and walkable. Massachusetts Avenue through the square is one of the busiest bus corridors in Cambridge, so most addresses have a bus option as well as the train.
What kinds of buildings are in Central Square?
Central Square has the highest concentration of purpose-built apartment buildings of any Cambridge neighborhood on Spot Easy. Mid-size buildings of roughly four to nine units are the most common single type, with a meaningful number of larger buildings on and near Massachusetts Avenue. Three-family wood-frame houses fill in the side streets. That mix is why elevator access and concierge service show up in listings here more often than elsewhere in the city.
Are there elevator buildings in Central Square?
Yes, and more than in most Cambridge neighborhoods. The larger buildings along Massachusetts Avenue and the newer developments near the station typically have elevators, step-free entry and on-site laundry. The three-family houses on the side streets generally do not. Filter for elevator directly rather than inferring it from the building's age.
What sizes of apartment are most common in Central Square?
One- and two-bedrooms dominate the listings here in roughly equal measure, with three-bedrooms and larger available in the wood-frame houses off the avenue. Studios exist but are the least common size. The size mix here is more evenly balanced than in the surrounding Cambridge neighborhoods.
What is there to do in Central Square?
The square is a long-established music and restaurant district, which is what the Cultural District designation recognizes. Massachusetts Avenue between Prospect Street and Sidney Street carries most of the venues, bars and restaurants. Cambridge City Hall, the City Hall Historic District and the Central Square Historic District are all within a couple of blocks, and Dana Park and University Park are a short walk south.
How do I find no-broker-fee apartments in Central Square?
Managed buildings are more common here than in most of Cambridge, and those are the listings most likely to lease without a tenant-paid fee. Apply the no-broker-fee filter and sort from there. A fee is normally one month's rent, due alongside first month, last month and a security deposit.